E-CHIMES

A Weekly Update of Joys, Concerns and Ministry with

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Sunday Worship Hour

10:30 a.m.

Church Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Pastor's Office Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm

(Fridays: Pastor's day off, office closed)

OUR MISSION

We are committed to inspiring a

sense of identity and belonging

through love, faith, and service in Jesus Christ

February 3,  2011

Our email is churchoffice@fpcmp.org

Our website is www.fpcmp.org

Church Phone 989-773-9609

Pastor Hanna’s phone 989-317-0820

Email address Revslhanna@gmail.com

 

In This Issue:

·      Prayer concerns

·      Annual Rummage Sale (NEW)

·      Thank You from Community Compassion Network

·      Thank You to all who helped with the Bake Sale

·      Ronald McDonald Pull Tabs

·      Workshop: “Christians Living in a World of Religious Diversity”

·      A Review Letter from Community Compassion Network of 2010

·      Per-Captia for 2011 

·      Update from the Pastor Nominating Committee

·      First Presbyterian to Host Food Truck at West Intermediate

·      Isabella Community Soup Kitchen “Great Chili Cook-Off”

·      Lectionary Readings

·      A Glimpse at The Week Ahead

·      Looking at Events in the Church, Around the Town and Beyond

·      Birthdays and Anniversaries

·      Web Links of Interest


PRAYER CONCERNS

Prayers of Concern for Shelly Roy, Ellen Scheide,   John Kingsnorth (Nancy Klunzinger’s brother),  Sarah Cox, Sue Blodgett, Cindy Miles, Warren Long, Tim O’Brian (The Loubert’s brother-in-law), Alfred O’Brian (The Loubert’s nephew) and Japan, North Korea and South Korea.

 

Gracious God move us to use our hands and feet to reach out to the least the last, and the lost in our neighborhoods, our communities and beyond.  May the world come to know your love through our love lived out in deeds of kindness and words of caring.  In the name of Jesus Christ.    Amen.

Prayer taken from the 2011 Mission Yearbook for Prayer and Study.


Annual Rummage Sale

FEBRUARY – VALENTINES’S DAY

MARCH – ST PATRICK’S DAY

APRIL – SHOWERS AND EASTER

MAY- FLOWERS

JUNE – RUMMAGE SALE ON JUNE 11TH

It is never to early to start planning or to start putting items away for PW’s awesome rummage sale scheduled for June 11thLets face it.  It’s cold; you are stuck inside.  What else can you do on these frigid days.  You will feel soooooooooooo good after you have cleaned out that closet and boxed up your things for the sale.  So good that you will decide to clean and straighten out those drawers in the bedroom, maybe in the extra bedroom too.  On to the basement!  Now your on a roll… let’s unload all those things you don’t use any more, never used, couldn’t figure out how to use or plain don’t want to use.  Give it to PW.  Done!  Now don’t you feel better…..Good!  And you will be supporting PW by helping them raise money for local missions and maybe a special church project.  Thanks for your support.


Thank You First Presbyterian Church

Thank you for your donation of $3,800 toward the purchase of food.  Your contribution will be used to help families in and around Isabella County meet their basic needs. Thank you for making a difference in our community.


Thank You all Who Helped with the Bake Sale

Dear Friends,

On behalf of Christian Unity Restoration Home, I wish to thank ALL of the bakers and All of the buyers who helped at our Bake Sale on Sunday!  Linda Oates and Charlotte Ison from our Board were happy to meet so many of you; with your help we raised $293.58!  Your warmth and great enthusiasm encourages us in our efforts to establish a homeless shelter in the Mt. Pleasant Area.

With Sincere love,

Lois Miller

Corresponding Secretary


Ronald McDonald Pull Tabs

We have just sent our 3rd Pickle jar of Pull tabs to Ronald McDonald House.  Keep up the good work!


“Christians Living In a World of Religious Diversity”

Memorial Presbyterian Church is honored to welcome Peacemaking Weekend Theologian in Residence.  Reverend Dr. Cynthis M. Campbell, Ordained Minister, President of McCormick Theological Seminary, Gifted Author

Saturday, February 5,

Fellowship Hall

Workshop 9:30 a.m.  – 12:30 p.m.

“How Big is God’s Story? Revisiting the Bible in Light of Religious Diversity” and “Living Peaceably With All: Peacemaking and Religious Diversity.”

Evening Gathering – Meet & Greet 5:30,

Catered Dinner 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, February 6

Preaching at 8,9 and 10:45 a.m. services

Congregational Dialogue following potluck luncheon 12:30 p.m.

Please make reservations for the Saturday dinner, $10/person, by January 31, phone the Church Office 835-6759 or sign up Sunday morning.


Dear Volunteers, Ministry and Pantry Partner,

We would like to thank you for partnering with us as we strive toward our vision that All Will be adequately fed, clothed, housed and know the love of Christ.  Together we made a difference in our community in 2010 and we look forward to what God has in store for this ministry in 2011.

 

In 2010 we saw a significant change in food costs and availability.  In January, we learned that the food bank would no longer be able to provide the subsidized mobile pantry that we had been blessed to receive each month for a cost of $1,000.  Instead we would be required to purchase the food at a cost of about $.20 a pound.  We quickly jumped into action and worked with you, our partners.  I am thrilled to report that thanks to your generosity and faithful support, we were able distribute over 500,000 lbs of food in 2010 to families that were struggling to make ends meet.  Thank you for your partnership in this important outreach.

 

As we work with our fellow pantries and service agencies in the community we see that the need for food and other basic necessities continues to grow.  We hope to develop stronger partnerships with these groups so that the resources that we have can go farther and meet more needs in 2011.

 

One  area of growing need is personal care.  Each month we have requests from community agencies for about 400 total personal, home and baby care kits.  A family who is struggling to put food on their table is unlikely to have the resources to purchase deodorant, toothpaste and laundry detergent.  We are currently able to meet about 25% of that need.  We desire to increase our collections by partnering with student groups as well as civic, church and business partners.

 

Over the years, we have been blessed with many long term pantry and care kit partners.  We would also like to welcome our new and returning partners, including: Zion Lutheran Church, CMU Dining Services, Zonta Club, Mt. Pleasant Technical Center, Mt. Pleasant Rotary, St. John’s Episcopal, First Bank, Women’s Medical Center, Broadway Playhouse Kids and Weidman United Methodist Church.  Thank you for joining team CCN.  We are thrilled to have you and look forward to serving alongside you for many years to come.

 

This New Year, we invite you to be in prayer with Community Compassion Network.  We ask for guidance and wisdom for the leaders and for grace and peace for the many volunteers who work faithfully to make all of the ministries of CCN possible.  We also ask you to consider how you want to use your gifts and skills to be a part of this ministry in 2011.

 

Have a Blessed New Year!

Sue and CCN Leadership Team                       Visit us on the web at www.ccnhome.org

                                                                        1400 W Broomfield (989)773-3641 #222


Per Captia for 2011

Per Capita for 2011 is $22.25.  You will find the envelope for this in your offering envelopes.


Update from the Pastor Nominating Committee

 

Our charge to call a pastor to serve in ministry with this congregation has two major components. We are sitting at the back door of phase one and are anxiously awaiting to open the door into phase two.

 

Phase one is a Mission Study which included a congregational survey followed by small group sessions with greater than 70 participants over a two month period. To complete this mission study phase, a summary document is being prepared and a retreat with the PNC and Session which will occur on February 11 and 12. The outcome will be twofold:

 

1. Congregational vision statement which will reflect our beliefs and our mission context

2. 3 year ministry and mission plan including initiatives for the near future (3 year) and “plando” strategies for the immediate future

 

Phase two is the actual search process and will begin with writing a Church Information Form to be approved by session and the Presbytery before being posted for potential candidates to see.

 

So why did we take the time to complete a mission study?  For one, things change after 28 years. But most importantly, we need to know who we are so that we can present ourselves honestly to those who may be called to serve with us in ministry. Questions that the PNC is asked to answer on the documents (Church Information Form) read by potential candidates include:

 

1. What is your church mission statement?

2. Describe your church’s programs and accomplishments.

3. Describe the gifts, skills and experiences your congregation possesses to fulfill its mission.

4. What are the key theological issues of your church and society that are reflected in the ministry of your congregation?

 

We appreciate your prayers and patience as we have implemented this mission study. It would be impossible to answer these questions about ourselves as a congregation without time in prayer and biblical reflection.

 

The past 5 months have been devoted to the mission study. I anticipate that phase two will be a process that will take us into the summer months. We will keep you informed along the way. There is a bulletin board in the hallway next to the nametags that is devoted to the PNC.  There is a notebook there that contains pertinent documents and also website links if you prefer to read the documents on line.

 

The PNC is not working alone. You have already contributed so much to the mission study. But you are not done!! Please continue to support the ministry of the church

through prayer, participation, and financial support during this time of pastoral transition.


First Presbyterian to Host Food Truck at West Intermediate School
On February 12, 2011, our church will be hosting the food truck that the Women's Medical Center is sponsoring at West Intermediate School.  This means that we will be providing and serving the refreshments, and supplying some workers, while the Women's Medical Center will be paying for the food brought on the truck.  This also the day that our Session and Pastor Nominating Committee will be in retreat in Saginaw.  So SJP needs the help of everyone; we need people to provide,baked goods, fruit and protein for the snacks; people to receive and plate the food on Friday afternoon; and people to deliver and serve the food at West Intermediate School gym on Saturday morning.

Sign up sheets for food and workers are posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex.  Please sign up.
Thank you,
SJP


Isabella Community Soup Kitchen “Great Chili Cook-Off”

Saturday, February 12, 2011 621 S. Adams St. (between Freddies and Millpond Park).  Public is invited.  Judging and presentation of awards 4:00 pm.  Serving 4:30 pm till 7:00 pm.  Menu also includes desserts and beverages.  COST is a free will donation.  Must register by Friday, February 4th.  Call 989-772-7392 Monday thru Friday.


LECTIONARY READINGS for Sunday February 2, 2011

Psalm 27: 1-8

Matthew 5: 13-20

A GLIMPSE AT THEWEEK AHEAD (Thursday - Thursday)

All events are at First Presbyterian Church unless otherwise noted

Thursday February 3, 2011

 

2:00 pm Cooking Class

 

6:30 pm  Handbell Choir Rehearsal

 

7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal

 

 

Saturday February 5

2:00 pm  Suzuki Music Studio of Mt. Pleasant Recital

 

 

Sunday February 6

 

9:30 am  Adult Bible Study

 

9:45 am  Chancel Choir Rehearsal

 

10:00 am  Children’s Choir Rehearsal

 

10:30 am  Worship & Sunday School/Communion

                        “Who’s In Trouble?”   by Rev. Brian Stratton

 

11:30 am  Fellowship Luncheon

 

11:30 am  Second Sunday Singers

 

1:00 pm Social Justice & Peacemaking Meeting

 

Monday February 7

11:00 am  Personnel Committee Meeting

 

Tuesday February 8

4:00 pm  Worship & Music Meeting

6:30 pm Deacons Meeting

 

Wednesday February 9

8:00 pm  AA

Thursday February 10

6:30 pm Handbell Choir Rehearsal

7:30 pm Chancel Choir Rehearsal


LOOKING AHEAD AT EVENTS IN THE CHURCH, AROUND THE TOWN AND BEYOND

Mobile Food Pantry Schedule 2011

February 12      West Intermediate School

February 26      CMU’s Finch Field House


 BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

February Birthdays

5          Alain Shannon

7          Chris Bullard

7          Ellie Smith

February Wedding Anniversaries

 

LINKS

Presbytery of Lake Huron www.presbylh.org

Presbyterian Church USA www.pcusa.org

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance http://pcusa.org/pda/response/usa/hurricanekatrina-index.htm